UFC 133 Evans vs. Ortiz Play-by-Play: Chad Mendes vs. Rani Yahya

Chad Mendes vs. Rani Yahya (featherweight)

Round 1: Feeling out period by both fighters to start the round. Inside leg kick from Mendes tags Yahya in the mommy and daddy button. Pause in the action, but it’s back to the restart. Yahya rushes forward, but doesn’t land anything. Slow fight thus far. Yahya goes for his first shot of the night and telegraphs it badly, Mendes sprawls out. Mendes gets another inside leg kick. Mendes jumps in with a quick combo and cracks Yahya with a punch. Yahya with another sloppy shot, Mendes avoids. Yahya looks for a spinning back kick, but misses. Mendes gets a quick throw on Yahya, but lets him right back up. Mendes looks for a jumping knee just as the round ends.
MMAWeekly scores R1 10-9 Chad Mendes

Round 2: Yahya comes out swinging and ends up giving up a huge takedown to Mendes. Mendes on top as Yahya works with an open guard, so Mendes just backs out and stands up. Yayya jumps in again looking for a combination, glances Mendes but lands nothing with power. Mendes slips under and gets another takedown, again working from Yahya’s open guard. Mendes stands up again. Yahya looks for another shot, but Mendes is having none of it. Mendes comes over the top and pops Yahya with a good punch.
MMAWeekly scores R2 10-9 Chad Mendes

Round 3: Mendes with a quick takedown to start the final round. Yahya again working from open guard. Mendes pushing and looking for the occasional shot, Yahya offering up nothing from the bottom. Mendes backs out and its back on the feet. Mendes however wants it back on the ground and takes it there. Mendes back out again. A quick exchange and Mendes slips so Yahya rushes in but can’t do much. Mendes pops in for one more takedown as the time runs out.
MMAWeekly scores R3 10-9 Chad Mendes